Going from Super Bowl ring to stethoscope, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is the very embodiment of the well-rounded person, and at the most rarefied of levels. The McGill University medical school graduate, who blocked on the offensive line for quarterback Patrick Mahomes on the 2020 Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs team, talked to St. Michaels University School students Friday about balance. The Montreal resident clearly knows of what he speaks.
“I was a better football player because of school,” said Duvernay-Tardif, in an interview with the Times Colonist.
“My message to the kids is to be curious and explore different stuff. Have another anchor and another sphere.”
Duvernay-Tardif’s two spheres in his life led to being named Sports Illustrated’s 2020 Sportsperson of the Year and receiving the 2021 ESPY Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for his work during the pandemic at the CHSLD Gertrude-Lafrance long-term care facility in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Que. Duvernay-Tardif was also named co-winner of the 2020 Lou Marsh Award for Canadian athlete of the year with Bayern Munich and Canadian World Cup soccer player Alphonso Davies. He has established the Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Foundation that advocates a balance of academics, sports and the arts for young people.
“Having passions helps you cope with adversity,” he said.
Duvernay-Tardif has had rapt audiences as he speaks at schools across the country as brand ambassador for the Powering Performance health and wellness program by Sodexo Canada.
“These are our next generation of leaders and it’s important to take care of them,” he said.
“I learn a lot, too, and grow personally by meeting them.”
A big part of his speech to students revolves around the importance of nutrition to sound mind and body, something he also knows a lot about.
“Because of my medical background, it’s important for me to promote health,” said Duvernay-Tardif.
“Sound nutrition plays a big role in optimizing all aspects of your life.”
Duvernay-Tardif was brought in as a part of SMUS’ health and wellness week: “By fuelling our bodies with the right foods, we can improve our ability to concentrate and increase our energy levels.”
Whatever your goals, said Duvernay-Tardif, savour the moments along the way to your destination.
“Enjoy every step of the process,” he said
“I was always aware that I was one step away from injury or retirement.”
He still is. Duvernay-Tardif, who is six-foot-five and 321 pounds, played last season on the offensive line for the New York Jets and is currently without an NFL contract. The 32-year-old came out of U Sports football at McGill to play 60 NFL games over five seasons with the Chiefs and 13 games over two seasons with the Jets. Duvernay-Tardif continues balancing his football career with his specialty training of becoming an emergency-room doctor. That is a balance indeed.
Duvernay-Tardif headed to Quamichan Lake in North Cowichan later Friday to meet up with his sister, Marilou Duvernay-Tardif, who is training with the Island-based Canadian rowing team with the ultimate goal of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. His other sister, Delphine Duvernay-Tardif, was an international level cross-country skier for Canada.
“I’ve always felt the least athletic member of our family,” quipped Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.
